@the_hoyle I guess it's not that he can't climb or TT at all, but he is decidedly average. Still, yes, I was pretty impressed he managed to lost only 1'30"!
@sutty68 Yes, two stage victories and a top 10 was more than we could have asked for
Fleche Ardennaise
20.06
The hilly Belgian terrain around Liege provided the setting for this one-day race that's been going since 1966.
Startlist
A relatively small field arrived at the start line, with a number teams looking under strength. The bookies picked Reihs, Downing, Pedersen, Van Staeyen and Obst as their favourites.
Raleigh team
After a successful time in Canada, the team were in good shape and looking for further glory. Oliphant would be our key man for the day, but Holohan and Sparling were also given free roles.
Race report
A break of four made it clear early on, enjoying some unusually fine weather in Belgium.
The early break had a number of bovine spectators
With around 30km to go, Holohan followed a move by Degand (ACC) and Van Asbroeck (TSV) up the penultimate col.
Holohan marks the late breakaway duo
The trio soon bridged to the lead group, the seven riders holding a lead of just over a minute with 20km remaining. Over the final hill, Atkins (BLS) and Holohan managed to drop the other escapees. The pair still had a minute's lead over the bunch with 15k to go.
Holohan and Atkins were too strong for the rest of the escape group
Unfortunately for the pair, the bunch closed them down with 5km to go. As the bunch sped towards the finish, Sparling decided to try to foil the sprinters by attacking up the final rise with just 2km to go.
Sparling tries to get a march on the sprinters
As they crested the rise and rode under the red kite, however, Sparling was passed by Obst and Pedersen.
Obst and Pedersen overtake Sparling in the final kilometre
Pedersen came through to take the win from Obst and Zabel. Sparling held on for 4th, while a fast finishing Holloway claimed 6th. Another good day for Raleigh.
The key race for our team over the national championships period was the British Road Race Championship. The race was held over the same course that the Beaumont Trophy, which the team will be racing at the beginning of July.
Startlist
There was a modest field of 62 riders at the start line. Sky fielded a formidable team, with Cavendish, Wiggins, Froome and Thomas all on the start line, while Endura also looked strong, particularly with Tiernan-Locke on their team. Cummings, Millar and Blythe were also potential challengers.
Raleigh team
Raleigh sent five riders to the race. Up against the likes of Sky and Endura we didn't have high expectations, but Oliphant and Holohan were in good form and look to make their own opportunities.
Race report
Holohan made it into the break, accompanined by Lampier (IG - Sigma) and Magnier (Node 4 - Giordana).
Holohan, Lampier and Magnier in the early break
Unsurprisingly, Sky moved to the front to control things at the front of the peloton.
Sky looked to keep the break under control
However, with no other team seemingly willing to help out with the work, Sky decided to sit up. This allowed the break's lead to extend to a very dangerous 7 minutes with 45km to go. This forced Endura to set the pace instead.
Endura take over the pace-setting
They failed to make much of an impression on the gap however, and the break still had nearly five minutes at 30km to go. The pack seemed resigned to letting the break go - perhaps Wiggins, Cavendish and co had their minds on the upcoming Tour de France?
With the gap ballooning (9 mins @18km), the attention focused to the leading three. An upset seemed a certainty, but who would take the win? Lampier was the first to make a move, attacking with 18km to go.
Lampier plays his cards early
Lampier opened up a handy 30 second lead. With Magnier refusing to work, Holohan set off in pursuit on his own.
Holohan leaves Magnier to chase Lampier
With 7km to go the gap was still 27 seconds, Lampier tantasingly in sight up ahead.
Holohan tries to close the gap
The gap slowly closed and up the final rise with 3km remaining, Holohan was just seconds behind. Could he bridge the gap?
Holohan closes on Lampier
With 2km left, Holohan finally latched onto Lampier's wheel. But would he have any energy left?
Holohan makes the catch
With the finish in sight, Holohan stuck like a limpet to Lampier's wheel, trying to save every ounce of energy before the sprint opened up.
Lampier and Holohan with the finishing line ahead
Lampier opened up the spring with around a kilometre to go. Holohan followed him closely, but did he have enough to come round him?
It was a close sprint for the line
Holohan managed to move up alongside Lampier and as they crossed the line there was hardly anything in it...
Lampier celebrates, Holohan distraught
...but Lampier just managed to keep his wheel in front to take a highly unexpected win. Holohan was heartbroken.
The race was still on for the minor placings behind, however, and Oliphant was narrowly beaten by Froome in the race for 4th, to take 5th.
@Ian Butler: yes, it was SO heartbreaking not to get the win. But then second place is still very satisfying given the competition.
IWT Oetingen
27.06
This Belgian one-day cobbled race took place on the same day as a number of national championship road races.
Startlist
With cobbles the focus today, the favourites included riders like UCI Contentinal leader Eeckhout, Commeyne, Hoste, Amorison and Franzoi.
Raleigh team
With other riders busy battling out for national glory, Raleigh sent a weakened team to the race. Janssen looked to be our best bet.
Race report
Our riders had a race to forget. All six were dropped on the cobbles and never made it back into contention. The race came down to a sprint between a lead group of 27 riders.
Leif Hoste took the spoils, with Commeyne in 2nd and Eeckhout 3rd. Raleigh's best-placed finisher was Janssen in 36th.
@sutty68 I know I keep saying it, but missing out on the British championships was just heartbreaking!
June News
June was another a very good month for Raleigh. Perhaps the surprise package was Holohan, with a superb second place in the British Road Race Championships, heatbreakingly close to becoming national champion.
Undoubtedly the finest rider of the month was Canadian Jamie Sparling. He made the most of racing on home soil at the Tour de Beauce, taking two stage wins and finishing 7th overall. If that wasn't enough, he picked up a fine 4th in Fleche Ardennaise and 3rd in the Canadian Road Race Championships.
Jamie Sparling: Raleigh's June rider of the month
Contract News
Raleigh have announced that Daniel Holloway has signed a one-year contract extension and so will ride with the team through to 2013. Tobyn Horton, however, rejected Raleigh's offer of an extension and is expected to move to another team next season.
Results
Skoda Tour of Luxembourg
Gerald Ciolek
TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship
Guillaume Blot
Tour de Rijke
Gianni Meersman
Memorial Philippe Van Coningsloo
Jonathan McEvoy
Criterium du Dauphine
Robert Gesink
GP du Canton d'Argovie
Francesco Chicchi
Delta Tour Zeeland
Sandy Casar
Tour de Suisse
Michele Scarponi
ProRace Berlin
Jens Keukeleire
Tour de Beauce
Markus Fothen
Ster ZLM Tour
Julian Kern
Tour de Slovenie
Martin Elmiger
Boucles de la Mayenne
Adrien Petit
Route du Sud
Alexandre Geniez
Oberosterreichrundfahrt
Florian Gaugl
Fleche Ardennaise
Martin Pedersen
Halle - Ingooigem
Tony Gallopin
IWT Oetingen
Leif Hoste
Czech Cycling Tour
Germinas Bagdonas
Tour de France
In progress
GP Kranj
Kenny Dehaes
Continental - Individual
1
Nico Eeckhout
483
2
Denis Flahaut
402
3
Elia Favilli
391
4
Angelo Furlan
315
5
Davy Commeyne
279
…
37
Graham Briggs
148
After a month off, Briggs dropped down 8 places in the Continental rankings but remained Raleigh's best-placed rider.
Continental - Team
1
Cofidis
1149
2
Christina Watches - Onfone
904
3
Team Europcar
887
4
Ladnbouwkrediet - Euphony
853
5
An Post - Sean Kelly
843
…
15
Raleigh - GAC
574
The team remain in 15th place in the Conti rankings after another solid month.
CQ Rankings - Individual
1
Tom Boonen
2004
2
Michele Scarponi
1664
3
Matthew Goss
1448
4
Mark Cavendish
1275
5
Rui Costa
1009
…
378
Jamie Sparling
72
After his heroics in Canada, Jamie Sparling is our best placed rider in the CQ rankings.
CQ Rankings - Team
1
Sky Procycling
5271
2
Omega Pharma - Quickstep
5204
3
BMC Racing Team
5048
4
Movistar Team
3987
5
Orica - GreenEdge
3578
…
38
Raleigh - GAC
400
The team move up one place in the CQ rankings. A top 40 place will be enough to give them promotion to the Pro Continental level. Can they continue to hold their place?
Schedule
01.07
1.2
Beaumont Trophy
Just one race this month, the Beaumont Trophy. The team will then take a well-earned rest before returning to racing in August to build form for their main target of the season: the Tour of Britain.
The team's management will no doubt be using the month to confirm arrangements with their new co-sponsor and trying to secure some talent to add to the squad in 2013.
Raleigh's final race before a deserved summer break was the Beaumont Trophy. The hilly parcours is the same as that used for the recent British road race championship. The race was first run in 1952 and has been won some great British riders including Bradley Wiggins, Malcolm Elliot, Russell Downing, Chris Newton and Don Sanderson.
Startlist
Raleigh's main rivals today were expected to be Tiernan-Locke, Downing, Kern and Von Hoff.
Raleigh team
Oliphant was the nominated team leader and still holding some good form. Holohan was given a free role and still had unfinished business on this course after his disappointment at the British championships.
Race report
Holohan got straight into the break, joined by Goncalves (BOA) and De Winter (JVC).
Holohan was once again in the break
However unlike the British championships, the peloton did not let the break gain much time and the escapees were caught with 25km to go. Holohan was not for giving up however, and put in a sharp counter-attack.
Holohan on the counter-attack
The peloton caught him again but the effort had reduced the bunch to just 75 riders. Oliphant then attacked on the 10% slopes of the final circuit.
Oliphant goes for glory
This caused a reaction amongst the favourites, with Tiernan-Locke, Downing and Teuns setting off in pursuit, marked by Sparling.
Sparling marks Oliphants pursuers
With 7km to go, Oliphant was still out front. Tiernan-Locke was just 14 seconds behind with Downing and Sparling a further 14 seconds back.
Tiernan-Locke was hot on Oliphant's heels
Into the final rise at 2.5km, Oliphant had gained another five seconds, now 19 seconds in front of Tiernan-Locke, while Downing had dropped a flagging Sparling behind.
Could Oliphant maintain his lead over Tiernan-Locke?
Despite Tiernan-Locke's best efforts. Oliphant held on to take a superb solo win, Raleigh's 9th win of the season.
Oliphant wins the Beaumont Trophy
In the race for third, the bunch swept up Downing and Sparling, with Kern taking the sprint. Holloway sealed a great day for Raleigh by sprinting to 5th.
With the first half of season over for Raleigh, the team have revealed that Oakley will become their co-sponsor for 2013.
Oakley will become Raleigh's co-sponsor in 2013
With this deal, Raleigh hope they'll be able to expand further into the US market. Most importantly, however, it will provide a welcome boost to the team's funds in 2013.
The management team say they plan to use this increase in finances to improve the depth of the squad and to employ the team's first training staff.
Edited by lennybernstein on 03-11-2012 22:31
The team has announced its first signings for the 2013 season.
James Perez
James Perez has been the top US performer in the U23 races this season and so he fits perfectly with Oakley's vision for bringing in some of the most promising American talent to the team. He's primarily a sprinter and has a very handy turn of speed that the team hope he can develop over the coming seasons.
Sam Bennett
Sam Bennett is another young sprinter with potential. He currently rides for An Post and is a rider we've had our eye on all season and has really impressed us. He's also handy on the cobbles and we hope he'll be able to compete with the likes Eeckhout and others in the coming seasons.
Gavin Mannion
Gavin Mannion joins from the Bontrager-Livestrong team. He'll provide us one thing we've really been missing this season - a presence in the mountains. Another bright young thing, we hope he'll be able to develop into a top talent in future seasons.
The team hope to announce more signings in due course.
In other transfer news, both Tobyn Horton and Simon Holt have signed to race with Team UK Youth next season. We wish them all the best for 2013. They've been great squad members and we'll be sad to see them go.
Edited by lennybernstein on 06-11-2012 08:24
@Ian Butler: I also hope Perez can develop somewhat. I probably signed him a little bit too hastily and didn't have the patience to scout him properly first. Only time will tell how he develops...
With the team only racing once this month, the rider of the month choice is a simple one: Evan Oliphant. He won the Beaumont Trophy in great style to take his first victory of the season.
Oliphant was Raleigh's rider of the month in July
Results
Tour de France
Vincenzo Nibali
Beaumont Trophy
Evan Oliphant
Tour de Pologne
Joaquim Rodriguez
Tour of Qinghai Lake
Koen de Kort
GP Nobili Rubinetterie Coppa Papa' Carlo
Kevin de Weert
GP Nobili Rubinetterie Coppa Citta di Stresa
Marco Marcato
Central European Tour Miskolc
Alex Candelario
Tour de Wallonie
Ben Swift
Central European Tour Budapest GP
Gediminas Bagdonas
Tour Alsace
Lasse Bochman
Prueba Villafranca - Ordiziako Klasika
Michel Kreder
Coppa Placi
Fabio Felline
Sparkassen Giro
Dennis Van Winden
La Poly Normande
Michel Kreder
Trofeo Matteotti
Fabio Felline
Circuito de Getxo
Ion Izaquirre
Continental Rankings - Individual
1
Nico Eeckhout
493
2
Elia Favilli
415
3
Denis Flahaut
402
4
Gediminas Bagdonas
334
5
Koen de Kort
324
…
47
Graham Briggs
148
With no racing this month, Briggs drops 10 places in the Continental rankings.
Continental Rankings - Team
1
Cofidis
1149
2
An Post - Sean Kelly
980
3
Acqua & Sapone
975
4
Christina Watches - Onfone
972
5
Team Argos - Shimano
970
…
14
Raleigh - GAC
624
The team actually move up one place thanks to their great performance at the Beaumont Trophy.
CQ Rankings - Individual
1
Tom Boonen
2127
2
Vincenzo Nibali
2103
3
Matthew Goss
1823
4
Andre Greipel
1725
5
Michele Scarponi
1677
…
417
Jamie Sparling
72
CQ Rankings - Team
1
Sky Procycling
6590
2
Omega Pharma - Quickstep
5870
3
BMC Racing Team
5491
4
Radioshack - Nissan
4358
5
Movistar
4276
…
41
Raleigh - GAC
421
The team slip just outside the top 40 of the CQ rankings this month. They'll need to pick up a good haul of points over August and September if they are going to win promotion to the Pro Continental level.
August schedule
01.08 - 04.08
2.2
Tour des Pyrenees
07.08 - 11.08
2.2
Vuelta Ciclista a Leon
18.08
1.2
GP Kralovehradeckeho Kraje
21.08 - 26.08
2.2
Giro della Valle d'Aosta
30.08
1.2
Ljubljana - Zagreb
This month will mostly be about building fitness back up ahead of the Tour of Britain September, although of course the team will also be mindful that they need to bag more CQ points if they are to challenge for promotion to Pro Continental level this year.
